Monday, October 12, 2015

Question for Baptists: Why do we need the "sinner's prayer"?

I have made several posts exposing the so called "sinner's prayer" as a man made false gospel.

http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-baptist-false-gospel-sinners-prayer.html

http://av1611studyblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-gospel-of-grace-of-god-vs_5.html 

I would like to ask any Baptists (or anyone else) why they choose to give the "sinner's prayer" as the way to receive Christ. Why do they do it?

The Baptists are divided on whether or not a sinner must say the sinner's prayer or is faith in Christ alone sufficient for salvation under Grace. Some of them say that you "must" say the sinner's prayer and others say that you do not have to say the prayer but that it is a legitimate option.

Examples of Baptists that believe the "sinner's prayer" is a requirement for salvation are Bob Nappier with Local Church Publishers and John Davis of "Time for Truth" in the UK.

Bob Nappier--"You must believe with all your heart, and call on the Lord to save you. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)" (my emphasis)

John Davis of "Time for Truth"--"If you haven't asked JESUS CHRIST to forgive your sin & come & save you, you're NOT saved; for HE ALONE is the ONLY ONE who can save you!" [His emphasis] (TFT News Issue 28)

An example of a Baptist that does not believe that the "sinner's prayer" is a requirement for salvation but that it is a legitimate option is the excellent Bible defender and teacher, Dr. Peter Ruckman.

"There is nothing in the Scriptures that says you have to pray to get saved." (pg. 406 The Bible Believer's Commentary on Romans BB Bookstore Copyright 2003)

"Now, if prayer is a form of calling upon the name of the Lord (and it certainly is) then if a man confesses his faith in Jesus Christ to God in prayer then he is saved. He might not have to do it just that way, but if he does he isn't working his way to heaven. After all, it isn’t his prayer that saves him anyway, it is Jesus Christ that saves him. But Jesus Christ saves the sinner when he places his faith in Him, and the same Lord who told the sinner to believe, also told him to confess Him with the mouth and call upon His name. You can do both in prayer (Rom 10v13)." (pg. 407 The Bible Believer's Commentary on Romans BB Bookstore Copyright 2003)

My question, why do we need the sinner's prayer, is for those Baptists who believe that the "sinner's prayer" is optional but not required. If they believe that salvation can be received through faith in Christ's shed blood as the Bible states (Rom. 1:16-17, 3:19-28, 4:1-9, 4:21-5:1, Eph. 1:13, 2:8-9, John 1:12-13, 5:24, 11:25-26, 12:36, 12:46), why do they even add the "sinner's prayer" to it? If someone tells you that they are "fully persuaded" and "strong in faith" that Christ died for his/her sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-4, Rom. 4:20-21)...why would you then tell them to ask Jesus to save them if you know they are already saved? By doing that, aren't you really saying that faith is not enough to save them? For example, look at this common scenario.

Baptist: Do you believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, not trusting your own works to save you but fully trusting Christ's payment for your sins?

Sinner: Yes, I believe that fully in my heart.

Baptist: Then bow your head and ask the Lord to save you and come into your heart.
[By adding the statement "Then bow your head and ask the Lord to save you..." doesn't this mean that the sinner was not saved by believing on Christ? Isn't the Baptist suggesting that the sinner is not saved and does not have the Holy Spirit in his/her heart by believing on Christ, that he/she must say a prayer?]

Which is why I ask: Why do we need the "sinner's prayer"?

The sinner's prayer is unbiblical and is a false gospel. What good does it do anyone? The Lord does not desire to hear a verbal plea for salvation...

Psalms 34:
[15] The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
[16] The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth
.

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Proverbs 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 28:9  He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

The Lord looks on the heart of man, He does not listen to a sinner. 


John 2:
[24] But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
[25] And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man
.

1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Three reasons why you should not tell someone to say the "sinner's prayer":

1.) It is found nowhere in the Bible.

2.) Audible/verbal prayer is a work (Col. 4:12), which means telling someone to receive Christ through prayer is a works-salvation false gospel (Gal. 1:5-12, Titus 3:4-7, Eph. 1:13, 2:8-9).

3.) Someone may very likely not be confessing Christ in faith when saying the "sinner's prayer". Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

4.) The Lord sees man's faith, He does not need to hear your confessional works: Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. John 2:24-25 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Get saved and give the PURE gospel of the GRACE of God! --Eli Caldwell

John 1:29... Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1 Corinthians 15:
[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
:

Romans 5:
[6] For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
[7] For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
[8] But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
[9] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
[10] For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life
.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Acts 15:
[7] And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
[8] And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
[9] And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith
.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full...

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